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Former Sittingbourne primary headteacher who faked exam results allowed to carry on teaching
19:40, 20 November 2020
updated: 20:09, 20 November 2020
A Kent head teacher who faked exam results will be allowed to teach again, a panel has ruled.
Colleen Owen narrowly avoided being struck off as a teacher after she admitted sending false literacy results to the council last year.
The former Sittingbourne headteacher was in charge at St Peter's Catholic Primary School, West Ridge, resigned in September last year after five years at the school.
An inquiry into Mrs Owen's conduct was held earlier this year, this time in the form of a meeting after the former headteacher requested a hearing didn't take place.
She was faced allegation's of submitted false data to the local authority in relation to the KS1 year-end assessment which she knew were inaccurate.
It was revealed Mrs Owen submitted a score of 83% for pupil's literacy tests, which achieved an "expected standard", despite actually achieving a score of 53%.
The St Peter's Catholic Primary School is part of the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership Trust.
'Mrs Owen as to the standards of behaviour that were not acceptable...'
It investigated allegations about Mrs Owen in September last year after receiving an anonymous whistle-blowing complaint about the results.
Prior to the meeting into her conduct Mrs Owen submitted a list of of agreed facts which included taking responsibility for the decision.
The panel considered a number of character witnesses about the former head, including some which described her as being honest and having integrity.
It found her actions amounted to both unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the teaching profession into disrepute.
After consideration into whether or not the teacher should face a prohibition order from the Secretary of State which would prevent her from teaching, decision maker Sarah Buxcey: "In this case, I have placed considerable weight on the panel’s comments concerning insight or remorse.
"The panel has said, “Mrs Owen accepts full responsibility for her actions and understands the seriousness of her actions for which she has communicated her remorse”.
"For these reasons, I have concluded that a prohibition order is not proportionate and not in the public interest for this case.
"I agree with the panel that the publication of the adverse findings made would be sufficient to send an appropriate message to Mrs Owen as to the standards of behaviour that were not acceptable and that the publication would meet the public interest requirement of declaring proper standards of the profession."
